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ADEL, Iowa — To many, the name Jim Shoulders is synonymous with rodeo. With 16 World Championships to his credit, and induction into both the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs and the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, Shoulders is indeed one of the most recognized and celebrated rodeo riders in the history of the sport.

Shoulders won the saddle that is up for auction at the renowned Cheyenne Frontier Days after being named the All-Around Cowboy Champion in 1956 for the second year in a row. The saddle was made by Bob Grimes of Carlsbad, N.M. The whereabouts of this saddle had been unknown for years until it showed up among the assets of a bank foreclosure. Many of Shoulders’ other Championship saddles are in the possession of various museums around the country. This is a rare opportunity for rodeo fans to own a piece of history.

Shoulders, a city boy from Tulsa, Okla., began riding at age 14. By age 21, his natural talent had carried him to his first World Champion All-Around Cowboy honor, bestowed by the Rodeo Cowboys Association. After his induction into the Rodeo Hall of Fame Museum in 1955, he was a repeat World Champion in 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959. Shoulders was also the World Champion Bull Rider seven times and the World Champion Bareback Bronc Rider four times, for a cumulative 16 world championship titles.

He was inducted into the Madison Square Gardens Hall of Fame and given the prestigious Ben Johnson Award from the Rodeo Historical Society at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Prior to his death, Shoulders inspired the establishment of the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund for injured rodeo athletes.

During his lifetime, Shoulders advertised for Miller Lite, designed and wore jeans for Wrangler and was spokesperson for and competed in Justin boots.

The saddle can be viewed in advance of the auction by appointment only, through Daugherty Auction and Real Estate Services in Adel, Iowa. Inquiries should be directed to Daugherty Auction at 515-993-4159 or www.daughertyauction.com.

Bidding on the saddle will begin Aug. 29 on the daughertyauction.com Web site and will culminate in a final live auction on Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, at 1 p.m. Central Daylight Time at the Daugherty Auction and Real Estate Services corporate office, 416 Greene Street, Adel, IA 50003.